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Hulman Field (ANG)
Terre Haute International Airport

The 181st Fighter Wing (FW) of the Indiana Air National Guard occupies 891.88 acres of leased land
on the Terre Haute International Airport-Hulman Field, situated approximately five miles east of downtown Terre Haute, located in west central Indiana. The mission of the 181st FW is to provide trained personnel and equipment to protect life and property, and preserve the peace, order and public safety of the state of Indiana when directed by the Governor. The unit currently flies the F-16 Falcon. The 181st FW occupies 4 administrative, 23 industrial, and 4 services buildings totaling approximately 323,335 square feet with 275 full-time personnel. A unit training drill is conducted once a month and results in a surge of up to a total of 1250 personnel.

The Terre Haute International Airport -Hulman Field has a unique history which dates back to 1943 when the groundbreaking for the airport, known as Hulman Field, occurred. The initial airport site contained approximately 638 acres and was donated to the City of Terre Haute by Anton Hulman, Jr. The late Mr. Hulman, a successful local businessman, was more nationally recognized as the owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. With the assistance of Federal funding, the airport was constructed and then dedicated on October 3, 1944. The airport consisted of three runways, taxiways, apron area, and a terminal building.

A local Air National Guard Base was established at the airport in 1954 and the 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron, a part of the 181st Tactical Fighter Group, was stationed at the airport. The 181st Tactical Fighter Wing remains stationed at the airport and now flies F-16 aircraft, which which replaced the F-4E aircraft.

In the early 1960's, significant improvement projects were completed: in 1961, and ILS (Instrument Landing System) was commissioned; in 1962, Runway 5-23 was extended to 9,025 ft; and in 1964 , much of the airport pavement was overlaid. The airport's secondary runway 14-32 was recently extended to 7,200 feet. Both runways are equipped with an avionics system for military users.

BRAC 2005

Secretary of Defense Recommendations: In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign Hulman Regional Airport Air Guard Station, IN. The 181st Fighter Wing’s F-16s would be distributed to the 122d Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne International Airport Air Guard Station, IN (nine aircraft), and retirement (six aircraft). The 181st Fighter wing’s ECS elements would remain in place. DoD claimed that this recommendation was made becasue Hulman (119) was ranked low in military value by the fighter MCI

Secretary of Defense Justifications: Capital (115) and Hulman (119) were both ranked low in military value by the fighter MCI.
Although somewhat lower (130) the ANG recommended Fort Wayne be retained because of its record of recruiting and its proximity to Hulman--allowing the experienced airmen there to remain available to the Indiana ANG. This recommendation would also help to align common versions of the F-16.
Establishing a CIRF at Capital would consolidate F110 engine intermediate maintenance for F-16 aircraft from five air reserve component units, and compliments other Air Force CIRF recommendations. The Capital CIRF would be centrally located in proximity to the serviced installations, and would utilize Capital's experienced people and existing facilities as part of an Air Force effort to standardize stateside and deployed intermediate-level maintenance concepts. Assuming no economic recovery, this recommendation could result in a maximum potential reduction of 269 jobs (163 direct jobs and 106 indirect jobs) over the 2006-2011 period in the Springfield, IL, Metropolitan Statistical economic area (0.2 percent).

Community Concerns: The Illinois community objected to DoD's proposal to send Capital's aircraft to installations ranked lower in military
capability and importance. Community leaders disagreed with DoD's assertion that the recruiting base will be stronger in
Indiana, and emphasized Capital AGS is located close to St Louis, Chicago, and Louisville and is strategically located for
homeland defense missions. They noted that DoD's overall proposals hurt Illinois significantly, with 2,700 jobs slated to
move out of the state, and added that the installation's 355 full-time and 774 part-time Guardsmen contribute an estimated
$44.7 million into the region's economy each year. The airport authority and state are willing to contribute land and some of
the funds necessary to construct a needed munitions storage facility there.

Commission Findings: The Commission supports the Department of Defense recommendation to realign Capital Air Guard Station and Hulman
Regional Airport Air Guard Station. While valid community concerns were expressed over these realignments, the
Commission found that the Air National Guard F-16 inventory is shrinking and that these two bases should have the
capability to transition to emerging missions as they become defined. Therefore the Commission revised the DoD
recommendation to be consistent with the Commission's Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Laydown Plan.

A second aspect of the Department of Defense recommendation is related to a realignment of Dane County Regional Air
Guard Station/Truax Field, Joe Foss Field Air Guard Station, Des Moines Air Guard Station, Fort Wayne Air Guard
Station and Lackland Air Force Base. The Commission found the relocation of base-level F-110 intermediate maintenance
to Capital, establishing a Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) at Capital for F-16 engines, consistent with
selection criteria and Force Structure Plan.

This recommendation directing aircraft movement and personnel actions in connection with Air National Guard
installations and organizations is designed to support the Future Total Force. The Commission expects that the Air Force
will find new missions where needed, provide retraining opportunities, and take appropriate measures to limit possible
adverse personnel impact. The Commission's intent is that the Air Force will act to assign sufficient aircrew and
maintenance personnel to units gaining aircraft in accordance with current, established procedures. However, the
Commission expects that all decisions with regard to manpower authorizations will be made in consultation with the
governor of the state in which the affected Air National Guard unit is located. Any manpower changes must be made under
existing authorities, and must be made consistent with existing limitations. Some reclassification of existing positions may be
necessary, but should not be executed until the Air Force and the state have determined the future mission of the unit to
preclude unnecessary personnel turbulence.

Commission Recommendations: The Commission found that the Secretary of Defense deviated substantially from final selection criterion 1, as well as from
the Force Structure Plan. Therefore, the Commission recommends the following:

Realign Capital Airport Air Guard Station, IL. Distribute the 15 F-16 aircraft assigned to the 183d Fighter Wing, Capital
Airport Air Guard Station, IL and the 15 F-16 aircraft assigned to the 122d Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne International Airport
Air Guard Station, IN, to meet the Primary Aircraft Authorizations (PAA) requirements established by the Base Closure and
Realignment recommendations of the Secretary of Defense, as amended by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment
Commission.

The Illinois ANG State Headquarters and the 217th Engineering Installation Squadron remain in place at Capital Airport
Air Guard Station, IL.

If the State of Illinois decides to change the organization, composition and location of the 183d Fighter Wing to integrate
the unit into the Future Total Force, all personnel allotted to the 183d Fighter Wing, including the wing Expeditionary
Combat Support (ECS) elements, will remain in place and assume a mission relevant to the security interests of the State of
Illinois and consistent with the integration of the unit into the Future Total Force, including but not limited to the
Centralized Intermediate Repair Facility (CIRF) at Capital for F110 engines, air mobility, C4ISR, Information Operations,
engineering, flight training or unmanned aerial vehicles. Where appropriate, unit personnel will be retrained in skills
relevant to the emerging mission.

This recommendation does not effect a change to the authorized end-strength of the Illinois Air National Guard. The
distribution of aircraft currently assigned to the 183d Fighter Wing is based upon a resource-constrained determination by
the Department of Defense that the aircraft concerned will better support national security requirements in other locations
and is not conditioned upon the agreement of the state.

Realign Hulman Regional Airport Air Guard Station, IN. Distribute the 15 F-16 aircraft assigned to the 181st Fighter Wing
to meet the PAA requirements established by the Base Closure and Realignment recommendations of the Secretary of
Defense, as amended by the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The 181st Fighter Wing's ECS elements
remain in place.

If the State of Indiana decides to change the organization, composition and location of the 181st Fighter Wing to integrate
the unit into the Future Total Force, all other personnel allotted to the 181st Fighter Wing will remain in place and assume
a mission relevant to the security interests of the State of Indiana and consistent with the integration of the unit into the
Future Total Force, including but not limited to air mobility, C4ISR, Information Operations, engineering, flight training or
unmanned aerial vehicles. Where appropriate, unit personnel will be retrained in skills relevant to the emerging mission.

This recommendation does not effect a change to the authorized end-strength of the Indiana Air National Guard. The
distribution of aircraft currently assigned to the 181st Fighter Wing is based upon a resource-constrained determination by
the Department of Defense that the aircraft concerned will better support national security requirements in other locations
and is not conditioned upon the agreement of the state.

The Commission found that this change and the recommendation as amended are consistent with the final selection criteria
and the Force Structure Plan. The full text of this and all Commission recommendations can be found in Appendix Q.